Chapter 28
Why Running Away Never Works
1.Do you suppose that you alone have had this experience? Are you surprised, as if it were a novelty, that after such long travel and so many changes of scene you have not been able to shake off the gloom and heaviness of your mind? You need a change of soul rather than a change of climate.[1] Though you may cross vast spaces of sea, and though, as our Vergil[2] remarks, Lands and cities are left astern, your faults will follow you whithersoever you travel. 2. Socrates made the same remark to one who complained; he said: “Why do…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Own Geographic Cure Attempts
Make a list of times you've tried to solve a problem by changing your external situation—switching jobs, ending relationships, moving, buying something new, or changing your appearance. For each item, write down what you were really trying to escape or fix internally. Look for patterns in what you consistently try to outrun.
Consider:
- •Be honest about what you were feeling before each major change you made
- •Notice if the same internal issues showed up in your new situation
- •Consider which changes actually improved your life versus which ones just delayed dealing with the real problem
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you thought changing your circumstances would solve everything. What were you really running from, and what would have happened if you'd stayed and done the internal work instead?
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